Rotary switch.



B. L. BOBROFF.

ROTARY SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED mus. m1.

1,258,305. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

' Uni rED sTA s PATENT OFFICE.

BORNETT L. BOBROFF, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO UNIVERSAL INDICATOR 00., 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

ROTARY SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed January 26, 1917. Serial No. 144,537.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Bouun'r'r L. Bonuorr, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of lVisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Switches; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eXact description thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in multiple switches, more particularly of that type including a rotary drum adapted to close selective circuits upon successive rotary steps thereof.

It is primarily the object of my invention to provide a switch of this nature which comprises an exceedingly compact and simple structure, whereby the switch may occupy a minimum amount of space, and whereby the switch is susceptible of a most ready and economical manufacture.

A further object resides in the provision of a rotary switch of this nature for selectively closing one of a plurality of circuits including a common return wire associated with the switch.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention resides more particularly in the novel combination, formation and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the appended claims:

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a partly diagrammati view of the switch and circuits, the switch drum being shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the switch.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the switch drum and contact fingers.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, the switch comprises a cylindrical drum 5 fixed on one end of a shaft 6 journaled in a suitable bearing 7. This drum is formed of insulating material and has set therein at regularly spaced intervals in stepped relation transversely of its periphery, a series of, in the present instance, three contact blocks 8 which project beyond the periphery of the drum. Disposed at one side of the drum is a block 9 formed preferably of insulating material and being provided in one end face with a serles of grooves 10 in which are disposed spring contact fingers 11 projected across the drum for selective engagement by the contact blocks 8 thereof. T iese fingers are secured in the grooves by a cor respondingly grooved plate 12- fastened on the end face of the block 9 by a screw 18'.

In the present instance, three circuits are provided, which comprise line I-l extending from the outer and central contact fingers 11, there being five of these fingers. The lines l iare connected with a common return line 15 in which is disposed a suitable source of power, as the batteries 16, and which is connected with the intermediate contact fingers 11. The circuits formed by the lines 14. may be employed for any desired purpose, and in the present instance signal lights 17 are disposed therein.

Thus upon rotating the drum to engage one of the contact blocks 8 with an intermediate spring finger 11 and an outer 1' central spring finger 11, the corresponding circuit including said fingers is closed, and as indicated more particularly in Fig. 3, successive rotative steps of the drum may serve to progressively close the circuits, it being appreciated that any number of circuits may be provided in the switch to meet differing conditions.

My improved switch finds a Particular application in voting machines of the general type embodied in my application for Patent #123271, filed Oct. 2nd, 1916, although the switch is adapted for various general uses involving the selective closing of a plurality of circuits.

No specific means has been shown for rotating the shafts 6, inasmuch as said shafts may be rotated either manually or by any desired mechanical means.

In various adaptations of my device,however, embodying a comparatively great number of units, economy of space is of considerable importance and therefore in such embodiments of my invention, the shafts 6 would be the primary power shaft, in other words the rotating means such as magnets embodied in my voting machine application before mentioned would have their power applied directly to the shafts.

hat is claimed is:

1. A rotary switch comprising a drum, an odd number of spring contact fingers extended adjacent the drum, the even numbered of said fingers being connected by a common line with a source of energy, a

series oi independent circuits having a 00111- 111011 iine to the source of energy, the odd numbered of said fingers being connected with said circuits, and contact blocks disposed at spaced intervals in step relation on the periphery of the drum, and each being selectively engageable with a corresponding pair of contact fingers to close the circuit connected with the pair of fingers engaged by a contact block, substantially as described.

2. A rotary switch comprising a drum, five spring contact fingers extended ad jacent the drum, the second and fourth of said fingers being connected by a common line with a source of energy, a series of gageable with a corresponding pair of contact fingers to close one of said circuits, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing l have hereunto set my hand at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of 1'sconsin.

BURNETT L. BOBROFF.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

